Abstract

Novel visible-light-driven PbBiO2I materials have been successfully synthesized through a one-pot ethylene glycol assisted solvothermal process in the presence of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide ([Hmim]I). The morphologies, compositions and properties of the PbBiO2I materials were investigated by XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, DRS and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms. The results of SEM and TEM indicated that the as-prepared PbBiO2I samples were microspheres with a diameter of about 1.5 μm assembled by nanosheets. The photocatalytic performance of the prepared PbBiO2I materials was determined by colorless endocrine disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) and antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP). PbBiO2I materials have a very good visible light response with band gap of 1.98 eV, thus result in better photocatalytic degradation activity. Under the visible light irradiation for 3 h, about 72.5% of the BPA could be removed by PbBiO2I microspheres. The main active species during the photodegradation process were determined to be superoxide radicals and holes.